A letter from Thorold city council opposing a planned cannabis shop on Front Street did not sit well with the owner, who says the pushback against his store has made him consider taking his business elsewhere in the future.
It was late last year that Thorold city council voted to send a letter to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, expressing concerns over the plans to open a weed shop on Front Street. The city argued the store was located too close to Thorold Secondary School, and that weed could find its way into the hands of teenagers because of the close location to Tim Hortons, which is a popular among downtown students.
Although it previously decided to allow cannabis dispensaries to operate within city limits, some councillors argued that it could send a signal that the location wasn’t appropriate for a dispensary to set up shop.
The letter didn’t sit well with the owners of Coconut Cannabis, who purchased the property to run the shop.
“It is quite shocking to me that both yourself and council would find it necessary to submit this letter,” Coconut Cannabis co-owner and property developer Anthony Candeloro wrote in a letter addressed to the mayor.
“I believe there is no real reason for you and council to oppose this store on Front St N as it meets all the requirements set out by the AGCO.”
Candeloro also wrote that the commission had received a total of four submissions of opposition against the store, of which three were of minor nature, and questioned why council did not see an issue with the bars on Front Street that serve alcohol.
“Experiencing this kind of push back from your city leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth and will unfortunately make me think twice before developing a property in your city in the future," he wrote.
The AGCO closed the review period late last year.
It is not clear when the store is intending to open.
CORRECTION: The article previously stated that the cannabis shop would be located in the same building as Dr. John Maletta, which is incorrect. ThoroldToday regrets the error.
